RRC
I do not have a filing requirement, but I think I qualify for more than I received as Economic Impact Payments. How can I file for the Recovery Rebate Credit?
A2. If you’re eligible – and either didn’t receive Economic Impact Payments or if you think you qualify for more than you received – you’ll need to file a 2020 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit even if you otherwise are not required to file a tax return.
The best way to file a complete and accurate return is to file electronically. The tax software will ask you questions about your income, credits and deductions and will help you figure your Recovery Rebate Credit.
If your income is $72,000 or less, you can use brand-name software to prepare and file your Federal tax return electronically for free with IRS Free File. IRS Free File is a great option for people who are only filing a tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Visit IRS.gov/filing for details about IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms or finding a trusted tax professional.
The safest and fastest way to get a tax refund (which would include your Recovery Rebate Credit) is to combine electronic filing with direct deposit.
How do I avoid scams related to Economic Impact Payments or COVID-19?
A2. The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the Economic Impact Payments as a cover for schemes to steal personal information and money. The IRS doesn’t initiate contact by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information – even information related to the Economic Impact Payments. Also, watch out for emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about Economic Impact Payments or refunds.
If you receive a suspicious IRS-related email, see Report Phishing and Online Scams for additional information.
I received Notices 1444 and 1444-B in the mail saying my payment was issued, but I have not received my payments. What should I do?
If you received Notice 1444 in the mail and have not received your payment as mentioned in the notice, see How do I request a payment trace to track my first or second Economic Impact Payments?
Note: Do not request a payment trace if you are trying to determine eligibility for the payment or the amount of payment you should have received. You must have been issued a notice showing your payments were issued or your online account must show your payment amounts (dates are not provided) to perform a trace.
What do I need to do to get my additional or plus-up payment?
If you filed your 2020 tax return, you do not need to take any action.
The IRS is issuing additional or plus-up payments to people who:
After your 2020 return is processed, we’ll evaluate your eligibility automatically for a plus-up payment using your 2020 return. Plus-up payments are issued separately from your 2020 tax refund and previous Economic Impact Payments.
Check the status of your plus-up payment with the Get My Payment tool.
When is it appropriate to refer your caller?
If your caller needs assistance that is not related to their Economic Impact Payment (EIP) or Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC), look at the below list of items to determine if they could get assistance from the Individual or Business Tax lines, Puerto Rico Local Tax Authority (Hacienda), MetaBank or the Advance Child Tax Credit Line. If not, please direct the caller to IRS.gov
Deceased Spouse, 2019: How do I complete the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet if I received joint Economic Impact Payments with my spouse who died before January 1, 2020?
A6. If your spouse died before January 1, 2020, and you received one or both Economic Impact Payments that included an amount for your deceased spouse, return the decedent’s portion of the payment as described in Does someone who died qualify for the payment? If you did not get the full amounts for the Economic Impact Payments, you may be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit. Do not include your deceased spouse’s portion of the Economic Impact Payment (no more than $1,200 for the first Economic Impact Payment and $600 for the second Economic Impact Payment) on the worksheet when filing your 2020 tax return. You should only include your portion of the payment and the amount for any qualifying children on the worksheet. You are not entitled to a Recovery Rebate Credit for an individual who died prior to January 1, 2020.
Why haven't I received a first or second Economic Impact Payment if I receive Social Security, SSI, RRB or VA benefits and I don't file a tax return? (updated March, 22 2020)
A2. While most eligible individuals automatically received their Economic Impact Payment, we may not have had enough information to issue a payment to other benefit recipients.
The IRS and Treasury have issued all first and second Economic Impact Payments.
If you didn’t get any first or second Economic Impact Payments or got less than the full amounts, you may qualify for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return to claim the credit even if you don’t normally file.
See the special section on IRS.gov about claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren’t required to file a tax return.
What do I do if my prepaid EIP Card was lost or destroyed?
If your EIP card is lost or destroyed, you may request a free replacement through MetaBank® Customer Service. To request a replacement call 800-240-8100 (select your language and then select option 2 from main menu) and enter the last six digits of the Social Security number of the person who is listed first on your tax return.
Is the Third Economic Impact Payment or additional payment includible in my gross income?
No, the Third Economic Impact Payment is not includible in your gross income. Therefore, you will not include the third payment in your taxable income on your 2021 Federal income tax return or pay income tax on the third payment. It will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2021 Federal income tax return in 2022.
A 2021 payment also will not affect your income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs.
I filed jointly with my spouse. Does it matter whose information I use for Get My Payment?
Either spouse can use Get My Payment by providing their own information for the security questions used to verify their identity. Once verified, the same payment status will be shown for both spouses.
How do I access my online account?
A4. You can access your account through a secure login at IRS.gov/account. You can also find the online account application by going to IRS.gov and clicking on View Your Account Information and then click on the Create or view your account button.
First-time users must authenticate their identity through the Secure Access process. Go to Secure Access now to learn about setting up your own online account, and what information to have handy for registration including the ability to receive an activation code by mail within 10 business days if applicable.
If you previously created a Secure Access username and password for the Get Transcript Online, IP PIN or ID Verify online programs, you can use the same username and password when accessing your individual account online.
What should I do to return an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) that was received as a direct deposit or a paper check?
A1. You should return the payment as described below.
If the payment was a paper check:
If the payment was a paper check and you have cashed it, or if the payment was a direct deposit:
Why can’t the IRS reissue the second Economic Impact Payment to me?
The IRS delivered the second Economic Impact Payment as rapidly as possible, as required by law. Due to the compressed timeline, the IRS is unable to reissue any payments. If your payment was returned to the IRS we are unable to reissue the check.
If you’re eligible, and didn’t receive a second payment – or if you didn’t receive the full amount – you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR tax return.
If the IRS used my 2019 tax return and determined that I am not eligible for a third payment, and I later file my 2020 tax return that changes my eligibility, will the IRS issue a payment based on the 2020 tax return?
Yes. If the IRS determined you weren't eligible for a payment based on your 2019 information and you later file your 2020 tax return, we will issue you a payment if you're eligible based on the information on your 2020 tax return.
If my EIP deposited into an incorrect account, would this be a valid transfer?
Invalid Transfer Reason: Deposited into an incorrect account
• For EIP3, review the GMP FAQs under the Bank Account Information and refer them to IRS.gov for updates if they do not meet EIP Trace criteria. Deposits that are sent to an invalid or closed account will be returned to the IRS and then will be mailed to the address we have on file for them.
Note: IRS assistors do not have the ability to add or update bank account information
Where can I get help completing my 2020 tax return for the Recovery Rebate Credit if I can’t do it myself?
R4. If you are unable to or choose not to use the IRS Free File or Free File Fillable Forms to file your 2020 tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, there are various types of tax return preparers, including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and others who can assist you in filing your return. See Need someone to prepare your tax return? for information on how to choose the right preparer for you.
What happened to my first payment if my address on my filed 2019 tax return is different?
A8. If your first Economic Impact Payment could not be delivered to you for any reason and is returned to the IRS, the first payment was not reissued. Don’t file an address change to update the address. Instead, you’ll need to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return if eligible. Your address will automatically be updated with the new address you enter on your 2020 return.
Will I need to know the amount of my Economic Income Payments if I'm eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on my 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR tax return?
Yes, if you didn’t receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact Payments, you may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return.
The Instructions for Form 1040 or 1040-SR include a worksheet used to calculate the Recovery Rebate Credit. To claim the credit, you’ll need to know the amounts of your first and second Economic Impact Payments.
You should file your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR electronically and choose direct deposit for the fastest and most accurate way to claim and receive your payments as the Recovery Rebate Credit. For information on how to find your payment amounts go to the Recovery Rebate Credit page on IRS.gov.
Requesting My Payment
I’m not required to file a return for 2020, and I received my third Economic Impact Payment based on my 2020 Federal benefits, but it did not include amounts for my spouse or qualifying dependents. Should I file a 2020 tax return to get an additional amount?
Yes, file a tax return for 2020 with your spouse and claim all your dependents. When we process your 2020 tax return, the IRS will issue you an additional payment which will include an amount for any eligible dependents reported on your 2020 tax return.
If you don’t normally file a tax return but you need to file a federal tax return for 2020 and have no income or income of $72,000 or less, you can file their Federal tax return electronically for free through the IRS Free File Program.
Notices are sent by the IRS when an error is identified when processing a tax return and a change is needed. What should I read to the caller?
Read to the Caller–There should be a paragraph in the notice (top left of first page) that explains what change was made to your Recovery Rebate Credit, can you please read that to me so I can provide you with some additional guidance?
I received a notice saying that my 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit was changed because I was claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s 2020 return. What do I need to do?
A6.
A. If you filed a 2020 return and checked the box stating you can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, you do not qualify for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. To be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit you cannot be a dependent of another person.
B. You do not need to take any action as the notice is informing you that the IRS already adjusted your return and disallowed the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. No further action is needed.
I filed a joint return with my spouse and one of us has an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Did we receive payment?
A2. No, the first Economic Impact Payment was not made to married couples filing joint returns unless both spouses had Social Security numbers valid for employment or at least one spouse was a member of the military. In December 2020, the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 changed this requirement. As a result, a married couple filing a joint return is eligible for a partial 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit when only one spouse has a Social Security number valid for employment. If you and your spouse didn’t receive the first Economic Impact Payment because one of you did not have a Social Security number valid for employment, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return to claim the credit.
Will I need to provide information about my second Economic Impact Payment to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on my 2020 tax return?
Yes. Refer to Notice 1444-B, Your Second Economic Impact Payment you received regarding your second Economic Impact Payment. These notices were mailed to each recipient’s last known address.
You can also view or create your online account to view your payment amount.
If you did not receive the first or second payment or did not receive the maximum amount, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 tax return.
If I received my first or second Economic Impact Payment on an EIP Card, will my third payment be deposited on that same EIP Card?
No, your third payment will not be deposited on the same EIP card. EIP Cards are not “reloadable” and can’t have payments added.
What does it mean when Get My Payment says, "Need More Information"?
If you see Need More Information in Get My Payment, it is because:
or
To have your payment issued as a direct deposit, you can provide a routing and account number for a:
Click on the button that says “Direct Deposit,” answer some additional security questions and then enter the routing and account number. Please note that this option is not available if we already have account information for you. The IRS cannot update existing account information.
If you don’t provide account information but your check was returned to the IRS and your address has changed, we can’t reissue your payment until your address is updated. See My address has changed or is incorrect. What can I do to change or correct it to receive my payment?
Don’t have a bank account? To find a bank that’s right for you, check the FDIC website. If you’re a veteran, find options with the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP). You can also ask your tax preparer about electronic payment options.